Paramedic's Call Leads to Drug Cache

By Jorge Casuso

A police call to assist a man who had passed out on a downtown street turned into a drug bust when the suspect erratically jumped to his feet clapping, was searched and found to be in possession of $15,000 in cash, according to police.

A search of the man's vehicle turned up several cases of  "liquid ecstasy" and led police to his downtown apartment, where they confiscated 160 32-ounce bottles of the popular drug worth an estimated $25,000, said Lt. Gary Gallinot, a spokesman for the Santa Monica Police Department.

The suspect, Tony Mason, 38, of Santa Monica was booked for possession of narcotics for sales, Gallinot said.

The incident occurred at 11:40 p.m. Sunday after police were summoned to the 1500 block of Second Street. Paramedics had already arrived at the scene to find Mason passed out on the street, the possible victim of an overdose.

"When he got up he was really erratic," Gallinot said. "The officer determined he was under the influence of drugs."

The police officer conducted a pat down search of Mason and found $15,000 in cash, Gallinot said.

During the investigation, several cases of GHB, commonly known as liquid ecstasy, were found in the suspect's vehicle. Police then obtained a warrant and searched Mason's home on the 1300 block of Second Street.

They found 12 more cases containing a total of 160 bottles of the drug. Each bottle contained 32 ounces of the liquid, which sells on the streets for $5 an ounce.

"That's a lot," said Gallinot. "They normally sell it by the capful, so that's a lot of doses."

Gallinot said police have seen an increase in the sale of ecstasy, especially among the young. He said the drug is popular at underground parties.

Also known as "the date rape drug," side effects include amnesia, nausea and stomach cramping, Gallinot said.

"It's not uncommon to see people that take it for the first time overdosing," Gallinot said.